Dish drying rack



A. P. F. BIGATTI DISH DRYING RACK Nov. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 INVENTOR. ALDO P.F. EMGA H rm AT TO 2 uEY-s Nov. 1, 1960 A. P. F. BIGATTI DISH DRYING RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 INVENTOR. A LDO P F. YEMGATTI ATTozNEYs DISH DRYING RACK Aldo P. F. Bigatti, 1 .0. Box 438, Times Square Station, New York 36, NY.

Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,149

Claims. (Cl. 211-41) This invention relates to support devices, and more particularly to a device for supporting dishes while they are drying.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting rack for dishes, said rack being simple in construction, being easy to install, and being foldable to a relatively compact size when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dish drying rack adapted to be hung on a wall adjacent a sink or in any other convenient location in a kitchen or similar area, the rack being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, and being adapted to support a large quantity of dishes and other articles for drying.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an improved drying rack constructed according to the present invention, the rack being illustrated in its unfolded position, ready for use.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the rack of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the drying rack is designated generally at 11 and comprises a generally rectangular supporting frame fabricated from stiff wire rod or other suitable material, and comprising a U-shaped main body portion 12 having the vertical side arms 13, 13 and the transversely extending horizontal bottom arm 14. Connecting the top portions of the side arms 13, 13 is a wire rod .member comprising a horizontal top portion 15 formed at its ends with the upwardly extending vertical loops 16, 16 merging with depending vertical arm portions 17, 17. The arm portions 17, 17 are welded to the top end portions of the side arms 13, 13 at 18, 18 and are also welded to the arms 13, 13 at the lower ends thereof, as shown at 19, 19. The depending arms 17 are formed at their lower portions with the loops 20, 20 and at their upper portions with the loops 21, 21, said loops being connected by intermediate portions 22, 22 disposed relatively closely adjacent to and parallel to the respective vertical arms 13, 13. The portions 22, 22 are of substantial length and are relatively yieldable for a purpose presently to be described.

Welded to the intermediate portion of the bottom horizontal arm 14 is a wire loop 24, defining a fastening lug which may be employed in conjunction with the upstanding loops 16, 16 to secure the main frame 12 to a wall by suitable fasteners engaged through the loop elements 16, 16 and 24.

Welded to the lower portions of the side arms 13, 13 at equal distances above the horizontal bottom arm 14 are respective loops 25, 25 which project forwardly in parallel vertical planes. Designated generally at 26 is a tray member comprising a horizontal top frame 27 formed of wire rod material and spaced U-shap'ed,

2,358,424 Patented Nov. 1, 1960 parallel wire rods 28 welded to the longitudinal arms of the frame 27 to define a basket, as is clearly shown in Figure l.

The inner corner portions of the tray member top frame 27 extend through the loop members 25, 25, thus pivotally connecting the tray member to the lower portion of frame 12. Depending stop loops 29, 29 are welded to the inner corner portions of frame 27, said depending loops 29, 29 being engageable with the horizontal bottom arm 14 of frame 12 to limit the tray 26 in its downward rotation to the horizontal, forwardly extending position thereof shown in Figure l and to support the tray member in said forwardly extending horizontal position.

Welded to the lower portions of the side arms 13, 13 are pivot loops 3t), 30 which are located at equal dis tances above the horizontal bottom arm 14. The loops 3%, 30 project forwardly in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to the plane of frame 12.

Designated at 31 is a first grill member which comprises a generally U-shaped frame having side arms 32, 32 and a horizontal outer arm 33.. The side arms 32, 32 are formed at their inner ends with loops 34, 34 which pivotally interengage with the loops 30, 30, thus hingedly connecting the grill member 31 to the main frame 12 for rotation around a horizontal axis parallel to the bottom arm 14. The grill member 31 further comprises a hinge rod 35 which is welded to the intermediate portions of the side arms 32 and which extends parallel to the hinge axis of grill member 31. A plurality of parallel rod elements 36 are welded between the horizontal forward arm 33 of the U-shaped frame of grill 31 and the hinge rod 35, the rods 36 being uniformly spaced apart by distances sufiicient to receive a dish therebetween, the end rods being likewise spaced substantially the same distances from the side arms 32, 32. '1.

Designated at 37 is a second grill member comprising a generally rectangular wire frame having the side arms 33, 38 connected by the horizontal arms 39 and 40. The corners defined between the side arms 38 and the horizontal arm 39 are pivotally engaged with the depending arm portions 17, 17, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the corners of grill member 37 are slidably and pivotally engageable with the members 17 and may be supported either in the loops 2.0, 20 or in the loops 21, 21.

A horizontal rod member 41 is welded to the intermediate portion of the grill member 37, the end portions of the rod 41 being respectively welded to the intermediate portions of the side arms 38, 38. Respective hinge loops 42, 42 are welded to the intermediate portions of side arms 38, 38 adjacent the horizontal rod 41, said hinge loops engaging around the hinge rod 35, as shown in Figure 1, whereby to pivotally connect the intermediate portion of grill member .37 to the intermediate portion of grill member 31 at the hinge rod 35. A further hinge loops 43 is welded to the intermediate portion of the rod 41 and extends around the intermediate portion of the hinge rod 35, as is clearly shown in Figure 1.

Uniformly spaced transverse rods 44 are welded between the rod 41 and horizontal arm 39 of grill member 37, the rods 44 being spaced apart by substantially the same distances as the rods 36, to define slots therebetween to receive the peripheral portions of dishes, as will be presently explained.

Respective horizontal rod members 45 and 46, substantially equal in length, are welded transversely to the upper portions of the rods 44 and .36 at one side of the drying rack, to define slots 47 and 48 which are of smaller height than the remaining slots 49 and 50 6v defined by the rods 44 and 36, the smaller slots 47 and 48 being provided for the purpose of receiving relatively small dishes, whereas the larger slots 49 and 50 are intended to receive relatively large dishes.

An auxiliary rectangular grill member 51 is hingedly connected to the outer end portion of the grill 37 at hinge loops 52, 52 welded to the outer end portions of side arms 38, 38, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The auxiliary grill or support frame 51 includes the parallel transversely extending rods 53 welded to the forward and rear horizontal arms of the auxiliary grill member 51. The outer corner portions of auxiliary grill member 51 are provided with hinge loops 54, 54 which are connected by link rods 55, 55 to hinge loops 56, 56 provided on the side arms 32, 32 of grill member 31, whereby the auxiliary grill 51 is linked to the first grill member 31 and the second grill member 37 so as to be foldable against the grill member 37 when the grill member 31 is swung upwardly, as will be presently described. The auxiliary grill element 51 defines a basket with respect to extensions 60 of alternate rod members 44, said extensions being welded at their ends to the arms 40. The aforesaid basket may be employed to support tableware, such as knives, spoons and forks, in the rack for drying, along with dishes and other utensils.

As is clearly shown, the auxiliary grill member 51 is hingedly connected to the grill member 37 on a horizontal axis parallel to the hinge rod 35 and to the hinge axis of the grill member 31.

When the use of the rack is not required, it may be folded to a collapsed position by moving the inner corner portions of the grill member 37 upwardly between the yieldable wire elements 22, 22 and the side arms 13, 13, said elements yielding to allow the corner portions of the grill 37 to be forced upwardly, until said corner portions are received in the loops 21, 21, which yieldably lock the corner portions in their elevated positions. The upward movement of said corner portions causes the grill member 31 to swing upwardly to a position adjacent to the plane of the grill member 37, namely, adjacent to the plane of the main frame 12. Simultaneously, the auxiliary grill member 51 is rotated upwardly until it is disposed closely adjacent to the plane of the grill 37. The interconnected grill members 37, 31 and 51 will be thus yieldably locked in collapsed positions by the engagement of the inner corner portions of the grill member 37 in the loops 21, 21. Similarly, the bottom tray 26 may be rotated upwardly, as shown in dotted view in Figure 2, to a vertical position adjacent to the plane of the main frame 12. When the device is unfolded for use, as shown in Figure 1, the slots defined between the rods 44, 44 and the rods 36, 36 are substantially in transverse alignment and will receive the peripheral portions of transversely disposed dishes placed between the upper portions of grill members 37 and 31, the dishes being supported at their bottom edge portions on the hinge rod 35. As previously mentioned, relatively small dishes may be disposed between opposing slots 47 and 48, and will rest against the rods 45 and 46, as well as the hinge rod 35. Articles of flatware, such as knives, spoons and forks, may be supported in the basket defined by the rods 60 and the auxiliary grill member 51, as above mentioned, as well as in the lower basket 26.

The dish drying rack above described may be of any height or size suitable for mounting in the space available, for example, to fit into the standard spaces available between kitchen cabinets and kitchen sinks.

While a specific embodiment of an improved dish drying rack has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dish drying rack comprising a vertical support member, a first grill member pivoted to the lower portion of said support member for rotation on a horizontal axis, a second grill member hingedly connected to the first grill member on a horizontal axis parallel to said first-named axis, means slidably and pivotally connecting an edge of said second grill member to said vertical support member at a location above said first-named axis, said grill members being formed to define opposing slots located in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to said support member and shaped to supportingly receive portions of vertically disposed dishes therein, a support frame hinged to the lower marginal portion of said second grill member on a horizontal axis, and means constructed and arranged to at times support said support frame in an upstanding position with respect to said second grill member.

2. A dish drying rack comprising a generally rectangular wire frame defining a vertical support member having rod-like sides, a first grill member pivoted to the lower portions of said rod-like sides for rotation on a horizontal axis, a second grill member intersecting said first grill member, a common hinge rod pivotally connecting said grill members on a horizontal axis parallel to said first-named axis, means slidably and pivotally connecting the upper corner portions of said second grill member to the upper portions of said rod-like sides at a location above said first-named axis, said grill members being formed to define opposing slots located in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to said support member and shaped to supportingly receive portions of vertically disposed dishes therein, a support frame hinged to the lower marginal portion of said second grill member on a horizontal axis, and means constructed and arranged to at times support said support frame in an upstanding position with respect to said second grill member.

3. A dish drying rack comprising a generally rectangular wire frame defining a vertical support member having rod-like sides, a first grill member pivoted to the lower portions of said rod-like sides for rotation on a horizontal axis, a second grill member intersecting said first grill member, a common hinge rod pivotally connecting said grill members on a horizontal axis parallel to said first-named axis, means slidably and pivotally connecting the upper corner portions of said second grill member to the upper portions of said rod-like sides at a location above said first-named axis, said grill members being formed to define opposing slots located in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to said support member and shaped to supportingly receive portions of vertically disposed dishes therein, a support frame hinged to the lower marginal portion of said second grill member parallel to said hange rod, and link rods connecting the side portions of said support frame to the side portions of said first grill member,

4. A dish drying rack camprising a generally rectangular wire frame defining a vertical support member having rod-like sides, a first grill member pivoted to the lowerportions of said rod-like sides for rotation on a horizontal axis, a second grill intersecting said first grill member, a common hinge rod pivotally connecting said grill members on a horizontal axis parallel to said first-named axis, means slidably and pivotally connecting the upper corner portions of said second grill member to the upper portions of said. rod-like sides at a location above said first-named axis, said grill members being. formed to define opposing slots located in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to saidv support member and shaped to supportingly receive portions of vertically disposed dishes therein, a support frame hinged to the lower marginal portion of said second grill member parallel to,said hinge rod, link-rods connecting the side portions of said support frame to the side portions of said first grill member, a tray member hinged to the lower end portion and being foldable upwardly towards said rod-like sides, and lug elements on said tray m:mber engageable with the lower portion of said wire frame and supporting said tray member in a substantially horizontal position.

5. A dish drying rack comprising a generally rectangular wire frame defining a vertical support member having rod-like sides, a first grill member pivoted to the lower portions of said rod-like sides for rotation on a horizontal axis, a second grill member intersecting said first grill member, a common hinge rod pivotally connecting said grill members on a horizontal axis parallel to said first-named axis, wire loop elements on the top portions of said rod-like sides slidably and pivotally engaging the upper corner portions of said second grill member, said loop elements being closely adjacent said rod-like sides at their intermediate portions but being yieldable to allow said upper corner portions to at times 90 pass therebetween, said wire loop elements being formed with outwardly bowed top portions located to lockingly receive the upper corner portions of said second grill member when said second grill member has been rotated to a position adjacent the plane of said wire frame, said grill members bring formed to define opposing slots located in parallel vertical planes perpendicular to said support member and shaped to supportingly receive portions of vertically disposed dishes therein, a support frame hinged to the lower marginal portion of said second grill member parallel to said hinge rod, and means connecting said support frame to said first grill member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,013 Martin July 5, 1887 652,349 Crawford June 26, 1900 2,577,397 Bailey Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,143 Italy May 6, 1952 

